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June 25, 2012

G73: Blue Jays 9, Red Sox 6

The Red Sox battled back to tie the game at 5-5 after Felix Doubront (6-11-7-1-2, 83) was tagged for four runs (two unearned) in the first inning, but the Blue Jays got back on top against Doubront and Mark Melancon Matt Albers shortly before a lengthy rain delay.

In the bottom of the first, David Ortiz crunched a two-run dong over the Sox bullpen to cut the Jays' lead in half. With two outs in the third, the Red Sox scored twice, thanks to hits from Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez, and two Toronto infield errors. Boston tied the game in the fourth when Cody Ross doubled into the left field corner and scored on Ryan Kalish's single.

Doubront settled down after his ugly first and kept the team in the game until the sixth, when he allowed a two-out double to Ben Francisco and a two-run dong to J.P. Arencibia. Melancon took over in the seventh and Cody Rasmus greeted him with a single. Jose Bautista then lined a shot into the Monster seats for a 9-5 Jays lead.

After the 1:56 delay, Ortiz hit his second home run of the night, #20 for the year and #398 for his career. It was Flo's 37th multi-HR game for the Red Sox, tying Ted Williams's team record. Later in that inning, Will Middlebrooks doubled with two down, but Ross struck out.

Casey Janssen struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth, fanning Kalish, Nick Punto, and Daniel Nava.

With a good showing this week in the three games against the last-place Blue Jays, the Red Sox can solidify their hold on fourth place in the AL East and maybe even make a serious move towards (gasp!) third. They are two games behind the third-place Rays, who are playing the Royals.